AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“This isn’t your fault, babe. Fish don’t live forever.”
“This one should have!” she sobs.
Heartbroken at the sight of her heartbreak, I turn her to face me and pull her into my chest and squeeze her tight.
She quivers for a couple minutes, but eventually, she manages to calm down.
It’s only then that the best plan for everyone comes to mind.
“Come on,” I say, scooping the poor little guy up in my hands and heading for the bathroom. “I’m going to help you give Sir a proper toilet burial, and then we’ll head down to the pet store and get another little guy that looks just like him.”
“What? Why would we do that?”
“Because Desi loves him. Loves his company. And because some other little fish would love to have the same from her.”
“Okay…” She pauses and searches my eyes. “But why would you do this, then? Help me get rid of the body and everything?”
“Because you, Ava Lucie, are my ride-or-die.”
She nods then, resolute. “Good. Because I’m pretty sure you’re mine too.”November 14th
AvaI step off my elevator and head toward the door of my place, slightly dejected by the fact that I’ve gone on four TapNext dates and none of them has been a success.
I’m running out of time to find someone to take home with me who isn’t a complete stranger, and the anxiety of possibly having to face my web of lies with Callie and my mom is nearly vomit-inducing.
I just want to get in my apartment, turn on the Kardashians, and eat twenty-three pizza bagels to ease the feeling.
But I’m stopped dead in my tracks when I find Luke in the middle of our shared hallway, lying between both of our apartments and sprawled across the old and squeaky hardwood floor.
“Luke?” I question, and he peeks out of one eye to meet my confused gaze.
“Where’s your date?”
“Who the fuck knows, and who cares. I think the bigger question to ask right now is what are you doing?” I ask as he pulls himself off the floor and to his feet. It’s then that I notice the color red on his forehead and right arm and T-shirt. My eyes go wide. “Oh my God, are you bleeding?”
He takes one finger to swipe the red from his forehead and sticks that finger in his mouth and grins. “It’s ketchup.”
A laugh pops from my throat. “What on earth…?”
“I wasn’t sure if you needed another fake emergency.”
But he said—
“I know I said I wouldn’t do it, but Mark sounded like a douche and a half. No way I was going to let you guilt-fuck the guy.”
“Very funny,” I answer and shake my head. On the inside, I’m smiling, but after the hellish date I just had to experience, it’s hard to let happiness prevail. “Is that why you texted me about five minutes ago to see if I was on my way home?”
“Yeah.” He grins, but when he searches my eyes, that grin slips off his lips. “You okay?”
All I can do is shrug, and Luke steps toward me to wrap his big, strong arms around my shoulders, pulling me into a hug.
“What’s wrong, Ace?”
“Everything, Luke. Everything,” I say on a whisper and bury my face into his chest. “My date was awful, just the absolute worst experience ever. I have to deal with daily emails from Callie about that stupid reunion, and now my mom thinks I actually have a boyfriend and has probably bought him fucking Pop-Tarts for breakfast and a damn stocking to put on the mantel.”
“I only understood about half of what you just said, but…” He pauses and squeezes me tighter as he gently rubs his palm down my back. “I promise everything is going to be okay.”
I sigh into his chest. “God, I hope you’re right.”
We stand like that for a long minute, and he gently sways us from side to side, like we’re slow dancing in the middle of the hallway.
“Did you eat dinner?”
I shake my head.
“You want to come over, order some takeout, and watch Golden Girls?”
“No thanks. I think I’m just going to call it a night and go to bed.”
“No? To the Golden Girls? Sophia would be so disappointed in you right now.” His words urge a giggle to my lips, and he dramatically but also tenderly checks my forehead and cheeks for a fever. “Are you sure you’re feeling okay?” he asks, and I can’t stop myself from leaning into his touch and closing my eyes.
God, that feels good…
I lean into his touch more.
So good…
“Ava?” he asks, but his voice has grown oddly quiet.
I slowly open my eyes to find him staring down at me. Brown eyes to blue, I don’t know how long we stand there like that, still in an embrace, and his hand still caressing my cheek.
We’re just looking into each other’s eyes.
